The Food Health Traffic Light system

When you’re first thinking of changing your lifestyle and go through a long list of foods that are not health promoting – it can seem pretty overwhelming. We offer this list as a guideline that we’ve used with patients, with the essence being: get the majority of what you eat from plant based sources.

Iodine – NZ has slightly low levels of iodine in the soil, can supplement this through iodised salt (which should provide enough). If you’re excluding iodised salt, have occasional bit of Nori seaweed. Note: Kelp is very high in iodine and small amounts provide too much. Iodine is added to breads in NZ. The ministry of health in NZ recommends folate and iodine in pregnancy, which can be supplemented if you’re concerned.

If you’re considering vitamin D (which you can make from sunlight) in supplement form you should discuss this with your doctor, and get an size and age-appropriate dose. It is fat-soluble so you can take too much, unlike vitamin B-12.